Alpine PXA-H100 Imprint add-on box

I installed one of these into a car that had had a Mini DSP in it. The Mini DSP wasn't giving us enough voltage for the MTX amps.

Since the car owner had an Alpine 505 Nav HU, I got him an H100 Imprint processor. It seemed to be missing a few useful points in the manual. I know that this device has been discussed quite a bit elsewhere, but I thought I'd share my experiences today here.

If you decide to try the auto-tune feature:

- Remember to switch the EQ/DIV switches - BOTH of them - on the bottom of the HU, preferably with power off. If you switch them with power connected, reset afterwards.

- According to Alpine Tech Support, you can't leave a USB cable plugged into the box even if the other end is disconnected. I don't believe them on this, but I ran out of time to test it.

- Manual mode is accessed by pressing the Imprint button on the front and selecting MultiEQ OFF

- Xover points for 3W are limited (Hi HP point can go no lower than 1K, Sub LP point is 63 or 80). This car runs HAT L4 has widebanders in the dash, and I would have liked to cross them in lower than 1K.

- Parametric EQ "Q" highest setting is 3

- Parametric EQ freq values are limited

- Channel output level setting is in the xover settings

That said, I was able to get better sound in 5 effing minutes in manual mode than the auto-tune MultEQ got in 5 tries, with different approaches as suggested elsewhere.

Final analysis:

Worth the money to add a set of features that should have come with the damned deck (or some damned deck) in the first place - but make sure your system is supported by the limited xover and EQ options. Plenty of output!

"Of course, the laws of science contain no matter and have no energy either and therefore do not exist except in people's minds. It's best to be completely scientific about the whole thing and refuse to believe in either ghosts or the laws of science. That way you're safe. That doesn't leave you very much to believe in, but that's scientific too."